Detonating firework composition



'WILLIAM F. GEHR IG, OF BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T ESSEX NEW JERSEY.

-No Drawing.

we 7 Thisinvention relates to fireworks which are set in action by means of impact, or friction, or heat, and which during combustion thereof produce a succession of explosive detonations or reports; the action taking place l insuch manner that the article does not explode in. mass butburns with a relatively,

slow combustion accompanied by rapid interi'nittent, small and harmless explosions.

Heretofore'such form of fireworks have been made with poisonous yellow phosphorus, potassium, chlorate and an organic binding material, such as shellac or gum.

- Inlorder to avoid the use of the poisonous yellow phosphorus, it has been proposed to employ sulphur phosphorus compounds and particularly sesquisulfide of phosphorus as the active agent with oxygen producing element in theform, of potassium chlorate, the compound being bound in intimate mixture by a cementitious binder comprising mag- 1 nesium'chloride and magnesium oxide. It has been found, however, that such form of binder. is notaltogether satisfactory for the reason that the magnesium chloride ingredient thereof being very hygroscopic, the finished article changes, tending to crumble and deteriorate especially in damp or humid weather. I I It is the primary object of the instant in- #Vention to provide a compositionwhich is not sensitive to. moisture and which there- I fore will not readily deteriorate. under changingfclimatic or weather conditions, but

to be properly operative when put to the use for which it is intended; and to this endI employ as the binder ingredients of the composition magnesium oxide with an alumor an isomorphous compound similar thereto, such e. g. as those inQwhich the trivalent aluminum is replaced by trivalent iron, chromium, manganese, etc, choosing as the prefmium' potassium sulphate, generally known 3 as chrome alum- The binder formed by such ingredients owing to the hardening qualities of the chrome alum, when combined in the firework composition, is non-hygroscopic, i and 'producesa hard inorganic cementitious material orlcarrier through which the phosphorus sesquisulp'hide and oxygen produc materials maybe dispersed and retained in that closely incorporated relation neces sary to effect the character of combustion SPECIALTY co. INQ, or BERKELEY H is sensitive to climatic will remain firm and hard at all times so as erable form of the alumingredient, chro ErGHTs, NEW JERSEY, A CQRPORATION or DETON'ATING FIREWORK COMPOSITION. I I

Application filed December 7, 1927. Serial No. 238,467.

producing the successive or intermittent small explosions or reports rather than relatively slow flaming COmlOHStiQILWhlCh it is desired to avoid. v

In making up the novel firework composition of this invention, phosphorus sesquim sulphide is introduced into a} Water mixture of potassium chlorate to which has-been added a cementitious mixture consisting of magnesium oxide and chromium potassium sulphate. To this mixture may be added an inert filler, such as beach sand, whereupon the mixture is then formed into .discsor' gether in the following proportions by Weight- 7 a Parts. Potassium chlorate 35 Magnesium oxide 35, Chromium potassium .s 'lphate 10 Sesquisulphide of phosphorus 12- Inert 'filler .8 it

To the active ingredientsmay be added a filler, such as beach sand, ofamount approximating by weight about 8 per cent of the total mass. v I g l I Thepr'eferred mannerv of preparing the, composition is as follows f I dissolve 10 pounds of chromium potassium sulphate or chrome alum in'water and then add thereto 35 pounds .of potassium chlorate, and thereupon adding in thedesired quantity of a filler. such as beach sand to anamount of about 8 pounds. These ingredients are thoroughly intermixed and stirred into a thick paste. Into the'resultant paste I then add 35 pounds of magnesium oxide, and stir in the same, and finally I add about 12 pounds of' phosphorus sesquisulor bodies thereof of desired size which are dried at moderate temperates of from 40 to 70 degrees centigrade; 'or the paste may be deposited on paper strips or sheets in the form of segregated spots or pellets; or the paste may be deposited on a fuse material; in any case when dried the same will provide a combustible composition which, when ignited will" inthe above composition would not be satisfactory inasmuch as this material of itself does not assume the desired hardness upon drying Also, owing-to the capacity or mag-1 7 nesiuin OXlClP/DO slowly absorb water, the com-;

' I position employing it alone would crumble and deteriorate especially in moist climates.

' The presence of the chrome alum in the comvantage stances. 7 v t b V l 1 While I have given above an-illustrative position along with the magnesium oxide renders the same hard and non-hygroscopic.

chromealum evidently reacts with the magnesium 'OXlCle to form metallic oxy-sulphates which are of considerable hardness and are similar in characteristics to the metallicoxychlorides which are present in certain cements. Thesemetallic oxy-sulphates render the composition hard andresistant to inois ture and also aid in separatingparticles of phosphorusvsesquisulphide so as;to thereby restrain the burning of the material and obtain intermittent detonation.

I Thecomposition thus produced will, when dried, provide arelativelyl hard dense mass which is non-hygroscopicso that it keeps well under variations of climatic or weather con- .ditions, and will remain properly operative for the purposes intended;

The oompositionof thekind'describe'd pos- I sesses, in addition 'to' the keeping qualities above mentioned, the highly desirable ad'- or' beingfree frompoisonous sub;

table of relative proportions of the several ingredients of the composition, it will be un{ derstood that variation of the stated proportions may be made within reasonable limits. For example, by increasing the relative pro portion of potassium chlorate with proportionate decrease of magnesium oxide, theaction of the firework will be speeded up, i. e. the

combustion thereof accompanied by'the deto- 'magnesium oxide and an alum. During and after the drying process, the

nationswill be more rapid; while, on the other hand, by decreasing the relativeproportion of potassium chloratewith proportionate in crease of'magnesium oxide, the action of the firework will be slowed down, i. e. thecombustion thereof accompanied by thedetonations will be slower.

purposes and function of the composition within thescope and spirit of this invention.

, Changes in the balance of the V other ingredients within reasonable limits 7 may be also made'while still attaining the tion'adapted to produce successive detonas 5 tions when ignited, "comprising at least one sulphur phosphorus compound as its active agent, atleast one substance producing oxygen, and an inorganic binder consisting 2. A- non-hy'droscopic firework composition adapted to produce successive detonas'equisulphide as its active'agent, at least tionstvhen ignited, comprising phosphorus.

one chlorate asthe oxygen producing sub v stance, and an inorganic binder consisting in magnesium oxide and an alum.

' 3, A non-hygroscopic firework COmPOSlr.

tion adapted to produce successive 'detonations when ignited, comprising phosphorus sesquisulphide, potassium chlorate, an inorganic binder of magnesium oxide and chrome alum, and an inert filler material.-

4. Av non-hygroscopic firework composi-y tion adapted to produce successive detonations when ignited, comprising a mixture of the herein named. ingredients in the approximate proportions as follows; potassium chlorate 35 darts chromium otassium sul hate phorus sesquisulphide 12 parts. v I 7 55A non-hygroscopic firework composition such-as defined, in el aim 4: to the mixture of-which has been added an inert filler.

'6. 'A non-hygroscopicfirework composition such as defined in claim 4 to the mixture of which has been added beach sand in amount approximating 8 parts; r

In testimony that I claim the invention set 10p arts, magnesium oxide135 parts, and ph osforth above I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of November, 1927.

WILLIAM F. GEHRIG. f 

